Weapon control and firing system

Abstract

A plurality of weapons are provided with electrically operated firing devices and radio transmitting and receiving equipment which permits each weapon to be fired only when the weapon trigger is depressed and a specific command signal is received by the weapon. A master control unit permits an operator to select necessary conditions which are to be satisfied before giving the command, including numbers of groups and weapons to be employed and numbers thereof which are to be in firing position with triggers depressed. Switching and logic arrangements are disclosed to permit the selection, receive signals from the weapons, recognize satisfaction of the conditions, and give the command simultaneously to all ready weapons.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A weapon firing system for simultaneously firing a plurality of independently supported and aimed weapons comprising a plurality of weapons each having   a trigger,   a weapon radio transmitter responsive to depression of said trigger to transmit a radio signal,   a firing mechanism, and   a radio receiver connected to said firing mechanism for operating said mechanism in response to reception of a specific fire signal along with concurrent depression of said trigger; and a control unit having     receiver means for receiving signals transmitted by said transmitters in said weapons and for producing signals representative of radio signals indicative of trigger depression on said weapons,   a control radio transmitter for generating said specific fire signal when actuated,   logic circuit means responsive to the production of a predetermined number of signals representative of trigger depression for producing a "fire" signal; and   circuit means for coupling said "fire" signal to said control transmitter to actuate said transmitter to transmit said fire signal and to thereby cause simultaneous actuation of said firing mechanism, and wherein each of said weapons further includes a ready switch operated independently of said trigger and means responsive thereto for causing said weapon radio transmitter to transmit a signal indicative of movement of said ready switch to a ready position.     
     
     
       2. A weapon firing system for simultaneously firing a plurality of independently supported and aimed weapons comprising a plurality of weapons each having   a trigger,   a weapon radio transmitter responsive to depression of said trigger to transmit a radio signal,   a firing mechanism, and   a radio receiver connected to said firing mechanism for operating said mechanism in response to reception of a specific fire signal along with concurrent depression of said trigger; and a control unit having     receiver means for receiving signals transmitted by said transmitters in said weapons and for producing signals representative of radio signals indicative of trigger depression on said weapons,   a control radio transmitter for generating said specific fire signal when actuated,   logic circuit means responsive to the production of a predetermined number of signals representative of trigger depression for producing a "fire" signal; and   circUit means for coupling said "fire" signal to   said control transmitter to actuate said transmitter to transmit said fire signal and to thereby cause simultaneous actuation of said firing mechanism, and wherein said control unit further comprises     first switch means for selecting the number of groups of weapons to form a part of the system at any one time;   second switch means for selecting the number of weapons to be included in each group; and   third switch means for selecting the number of weapons in each group from which trigger depression signals must be received,   said logic circuit means being responsive to said signals to produce a "fire" signal only when the conditions established by said first, second and third switch means are satisifed.   
     
     
       3. A system according to claim 2 wherein each of said weapons includes a ready switch and means for causing said weapon radio transmitter to transmit a signal indicative of movement of said ready switch to a ready position.   
     
     
       4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said logic circuit means includes a plurality of weapon control logic circuits, one of said circuits being operatively associated with each of said weapons,   each of said weapon control logic circuits being adapted to receive an enabling signal from an associated portion of said second switch means, a signal indicative of movement of the ready switch to the ready position in the weapon associated with said circuit, and a trigger depression signal from said associated weapon to produce a signal representative of complete readiness of said weapon to fire; and   logic circuits for recognizing that the weapon control logic circuits associated with all selected weapons are producing signals representative of weapon readiness for producing said "fire" signal.   
     
     
       5. A system according to claim 2 wherein said control unit further includes fourth switch means movable between a first position in which production of a "fire" signal is prevented and a second position in which production of said fire signal is permitted when said conditions are satisifed.